Explain four ways in which gold mining has contributed to the economy of South Africa.

KCSE Geography Paper 2 2008 Section B Question 8.

​a) The table below shows the quantity of minerals produced in Kenya in tones between years 2001 and 2005. Use it to answer questions (a) (i) and (ii).

​i) Calculate the average annual production of soda ash over the 5 year 5 years period.

• Soda ash average production for 5 years 
• =1668446 ÷ 5
• =333689 .2 Tonnes

ii) Calculate the total mineral production for the year 2003. 

​Mineral production for the year 2003
=45369.2 Tonnes

iii) Give three uses of soda ash

• It is a raw material for making glass
• It is used in king detergents
• It is used in some chemical industries /petroleum refining
• It is used as a water softener/water treatment
• It is in desulphurising steel
• It is used in paper industries.

​b) The diagram below shows shaft mining.

​i) Name the parts marked E, F and G. 

• E- main shaft/vertical shaft
• F- Tunnel/horizontal shaft/Gallery
• G- Mineral ore

​ii) State two problems associated with shaft mining.

• Sometimes, mines get flooded with sub/terrain water.
• There are occasional emission of poisonous gases in the mines.
• The dust produced causes respiratory diseases
• Sometimes tunnels collapse causing deaths of miners.

​c) Explain four ways in which gold mining has contributed to the economy of South Africa.

• Gold is highly prices, thus it earns foreign exchanger which used to improve other sectors of the economy.
• Gold provides raw materials for industries that make jewellery and other highly valued items thus promoting industrial expansion.
• Gold as a medium of exchange in the world is used in South Africa as a means of paying international debts.
• Gold mining industry has generated employment opportunities, which raises the standard of living of the people /earn more income
• Gold mining has led to development of towns in the Rand and the Orange Free State creating a large demand for agricultural products.
• Mining of gold has led to the expansion of infrastructure such as transport and communication/provision of social amenities.
• Gold mining has led to the development of industrial mining skills that are useful in other sectors of the economy.

​d) Explain three negative effective effects of mining on the environment 

• The dumping of rock waste had led to the loss of biodiversity/destruction of natural vegetation
• Dereliction of land due to dumping of waste materials is an eye sore/destroys the natural beauty of the land
• Dereliction of land due to dumping of waste materials is an eye sore/destroys the natural beauty of the land
• Pollution of the areas by noise/blasts smoke and water pools are all health hazards.
• Mining disrupts the water table which may lead to shortage of water.
• Mining takes up land that would have been used for agriculture thus interfering with food production.
• Mining displaces human settlements thus disrupting people and necessitating expensive resettlement processes.

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